Description

I own no land, instead I have wheelestate. I’ve been a full time RVer since 1997. Working summers as a Park Ranger takes me to many beautiful places and playing during the winter takes me to many more. This blog is simply the story of my life's adventures.

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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Scenic Sunday - Raven or Crow


How to tell the difference?
If you see a bird flying over head that is relatively large and black look closely at the wing tips and count the primary or pinion feathers.
Crows have three pinions and Ravens have four pinions.
So the difference is just a matter of opinion. ;-))

To see more scenics, or to share your own, go to Scenic Sunday by clicking here.

23 comments:

Pat said...

Oh, boy, do I love a good pun, and that one sure is! Ha. There's a bird here that is very large, but either black and white or gray and white; not sure what it is. I can send you a photo if you want.

Gaelyn,

Thank you for the major honor with the Best Blog award. I've sort of made it a practice not to pass on awards, since (selfishly) it's often time-consuming, but I thank you!!!

Diane AZ said...

Oh, ha ha, just a matter of opinion... great pun and pic! :D

Janie said...

Nice pun! I'm glad I know the difference now, but I kind of doubt I'm going to be able to count feathers on a flying bird!

Barb said...

Gaelyn - How in the world would I ever get close enough?

Lois said...

That's cute! The only time I could be absolutely sure I was looking at a raven was one time at the Painted Desert and that's only because one of the park employees pointed it out to me after I mistakenly called it a crow!

Anonymous said...

I have noticed that ravens also have wedged shaped tails whereas crows do not. Plus crows are usually seen in high numbers whereas ravens will be in pairs or in very small groups.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! Funny!! :) Good info though.

Craig Glenn said...

Nice info G!

Craig

Arija said...

Oh punnyyy! Love the info, is it really so? I just took a series of shots of a fledgling crow that let me come to within less than a yard of it..it was just so insecure about its pilots licence.

Tammie Lee said...

hi Gaelyn,
I have wondered the very same thing. But then again I am not a birder, that is why I wonder instead of finding out I suppose. Love photo!

Small City Scenes said...

that is too funny. I like it and will remember it. LOL
The tail difference is another way and of course their voice. A caw to a gutteral Gronk!!! MB

Carolyn said...

Raven!!! Great capture Gaelyn. Ravens also have a very unique flight sound....crows you can not hear flying, you can always tell when a raven is approaching.
Have a great weekend.
Smiles

magiceye said...

that was interesting

eileeninmd said...

Funny pun, and a great photo. Another difference is the size. My field guide has the Raven at 24in and the Crow is 17in. The Raven is a larger bird.
Thanks for sharing your scene.

Joy0z said...

Oh that's cute. Great capture. Happy Sunday. Thanks.

Ms. Fiddlesticks said...

I have always loved ravens. I never really knew the difference between crows and ravens, and then what is a blackbird, is it a crow?
Nice to know there is a visual difference but I probably would not know it unless they were flying side by side.
Happy Sunday.
DF

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Gaelyn: Fun play with words, do ravens also caw like a crow?

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

You are pretty funny.

Sunny said...

LOL, I fell for that one!
Sunny :)

Kathie Brown said...

I have never heard of this before! What a great tip! I always look for the wedge shaped tail of the raven and I listen for the voice. Down here I have to try to differentiate between chihuahuan ravens and common, most easily told by voice, but they are not always talking!

Rambling Woods said...

I didn't know that. I would be thrilled to see a raven and that is my opinion....gg... Michelle

Dawn Fine said...

hee hee..good one...tweeting this out right now!

RuthieJ said...

Enjoy your ravens! Here in SE MN I only see crows and wish for ravens.

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